The 2009 edition of the tour that reminds us just how much fun the 80's were, enjoyed chapter 3 in Atlantic City on Saturday night June 20th. Resorts Hotel's Superstar Theatre was transformed into a synth-pop playroom, ruled mainly by British folk. Poison arrows were shot, which took your breath away. Some just died in your arms. But the bottom line, everybody had fun tonight.
Cutting Crew
The men who in 1987 just died in your arms (tonight) actually came out more alive than any American audience had seen in over two decades. They opened their act humorously saying "We speak English, you speak American! But we've been waiting for this night for over 20 years."
With their colorful guitars and vocalist Nick Van Eede's lyrical passion, the group played a steadily interwoven mix of new and old material, including "One For The Mockingbird." Though featured on their high-charting 1986 album Broadcast, few in the crowd remembered the track, mainly because it barely cracked the top 40 in both the U.S. and UK 22 years ago.
"I've Been In Love Before" drew more applause, recalled well by many adult contemporary listeners. Nearly everyone stood, cheered, and sang along when "I Just Died In Your Arms (tonight)" came on. Van Eede even playfully changed one lyric, singing "it must have been something you ate" instead of "said." The group left thanking all for being a part of their comeback.
Wang Chung
While many at the show predicted the unforgettable duo of Jack Hues and Nick Feldman would go last, they went second.
They began with the lesser-known older material, but did not take long to get to 1987's "Let's Go" The live performance lost a bit of its dance touch due to the preponderance of guitars, yet those that remembered the song went wild. "Dance Hall Days" which Hues said on stage "needs no introduction," was an instant hit with the crowd, most of whom were over 35.
Wang Chung also played a track off their sometimes forgotten movie soundtrack, "To Live and Die In L.A." How did they wrap things up? With the song that Hues said should be Atlantic City's theme: "Everybody Have Fun Tonight." The audience did, and sent Wang Chung, (which means "yellow bell") off with nothing but love.
Berlin featuring Terri Nunn
By far and away the most audience-interactive performance of the night, the instrumentalists of Berlin came on stage attracting claps and cheers. But the crowd was even more audible when they saw all 5'2" of Terri Nunn trot out, in a poufy black dress, two-toned well with her bleach-blonde hair.
Nunn wasted no time getting to the group's 80's hits. They began with "Masquerade," and followed it with "No More Words." All the while video montages played on both sides of the stage (a feature used even more by Human League, part of 2008's Regeneration Tour.) "The Metro" came next, and eventually they arrived at their biggest U.S. success, "Take My Breath Away," made popular by the 1986 hit film Top Gun.
Berlin also played a number of more recent releases, featured on an up and coming CD anthology. At one point, Nunn even walked down off the stage, and gave high-five's, hugs, and made other affectionate gestures with members of the crowd (including yours truly). For the performance of their newer track "Dancing In Berlin," Nunn invited audience members to come on stage and dance with her and the band. Resorts security though limited it to about two dozen guests. Hearts were broken, yet Berlin left the stage with new places in each heart there, as the group made way for the night's final act.
ABC
The one group returning from 2008's Regeneration Tour, ABC came out dressed in their usual suave 80-ish suits, with lead singer Martin frye ready to sing about what else, but the in's and outs of, and of course the look, of love.
They opened with "Poison Arrow". Who broke Frye's heart? You did, you did! Despite the recsssion, ABC also reminded Atlantic City's gamblers and non-gamblers "How To Be A Millionaire." Then, like at their 2008 performance, they played many songs off their 08' album, Traffic. While none of those tracks struck major chords with the crowd, appreciation was still audibly plentiful. ABC then returned to the 80's with favorites like "Be Near Me." They also reminded everyone of musical legend Smokey Robinson with their 1987 success "When Smokey Sings." They ended with their very first U.S. hit, 1982's "The Look Of Love."
The Tour
The 2009 Regeneration Tour now moves to Baltimore on June 23rd, Vienna, Virginia on the 24th, then heads west, and zips back east for an Atlanta performance on July 15th. It aims to keep the 80's in phase, no matter when fans' dance hall days were.
